Head-lamp-dimming plug



Jan. 1,. 1929.

H. C. FOSTER HEAD LAMP mmmw PLUG Filed Feb. 23, 1928 Qlhmlllhhl vINVENTOR. fimmr c. Fan-5A.

2 ATZRNEYS.

Patented Jan. 1, '1929.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

Application filed February 23, 1928. Serial No. 255,481.

This invention relates to a dimming attachment adapted for use in connection with vehicle lamp It is the practice in the modern automobiles to provide a head light having a double fila-- ment bulb which,is controllable by a. switch on the steering wheel or dash, enabling the operator to switch the current on to one or the other of the filaments. As the filaments, are displaced with respect to each other, the energizing of one filament will throw the beam ahead for distance driving while theenergizing of the other filament will cause a downward deflection of the beamfor city- This is termed driving-and passingvehicles. the double filament or depressiblebeam headlamp construct-ion.

. The object of this invention in to-utiliie' the above mentioned construction which is installed as standard equipment in most modern automobiles, to operate asingle filament .bulb to render it bright ordirn through .the interposition of suitable resistance. In this connection wherein it is desired to substitute for the depressible beam lamp a single beam a single filament, the same may be accomplished and connected u with the switch normally used for contro ing the illumination of the double filament bulb so asto control the single filament bulb by rendering it bright or dim. This is accomplished by. providing an attachment or insert ble circuit leading to the lamp so that one of the circuits will be provided with a resistance coil. Thus, when the switch controlling the double circuit is actuated the current may be caused to pass through the resistance coil for dimming the filament, or be caused to pass through the other circuit' for obtaining a bright driving light.

' The full nature of the invention will be more clearly understood from the "accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical illustration of a vehicle showing the circuit therein with the dimming attachment connected in the circuit.

1g. 2 is a central vertical section through the dimming attachment. Fig; 3 is a section. taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings there is shown portions of a; vehicle having a headlamp 10, a steering wheel 11 and a switch 12 mounted thereon, said switch being provided with an operating handle 13. Connecting the switch with 28 aremounted in a suitable lamp wherein the bulb is provided only with to connector the d011-" the lamp 10 there are a pair of electric wires 14 and 15 from a. double circuit. ,A third'wire 16 is connected with one terminal of the battery or source of current, while the other terminal ofthe battery is grounded, as indicated at 17.

Mounted in the double circuit, indicated by 14 and 15, there is a dimming plug 18 comprising a cylindrical plug 19 of the usual character havingcontact heads 20 adapted'to 'make contact withthe wires 14 and 15,-respectively. Secured on the inner.

' end of the plug there is'a cylindrical housing 22 having a spool 23 of fiber mounted therein.

Said spool is wound with a resistance coil 24 which is suitablyinsulated from the housing by the mica wrapping 25. The

wire 15 con-. necting with, the head 21 conducts the current to one'end of the winding 24 while the other end of the winding is connected with the contact head 26. Current passing through the wire 14, which is in contact with the head 20, is caused to'pass directly through the wire 27 to the head 28. The heads 26 and receive a plug 30 making connections through the wires 14 and 15 to the socket 31, which is connected with the base 32 of the lamp bulb 33. The base 32 isprovided with a single contact head 34 and makes contact with both of the wires 14 and 15. The single filament 35 mounted in the bulb connects withthe single head 34 and the ground, indicated at 36-.

y means of this arrangement, when the switch handle 13 is moved in position to close the circuit from the battery to the line 14, a direct circuit is set up through the filament, said circuit passing through. the line 27. Thus, a bright drivin light is obtained.

and 21 socket 29 adapted which engages When the switch handle 13 is moved to the opposite position, the direct circuit is broken and the circuit throu h the line 15 and resisting a double circuit for a double filament deand control switch pressible beam-lamp anda control switch therefor, of adimming plug connected in said circuit havin a resistance unit con-. nected ,with one .the wires of the double circuit,and a single filament bulb connected with said circuit whereby'the dimming of l the single filamentwill be effected by theophousing therefor,

nected through said resistance unit. 3. In combination with an automobile hav-- ing a double circuit for a double filament depressible beam lamp and a control switch therefor, of a dimming plug connected in said circuit comprising a resistance coil, a

' with double contacts,

said plug and socket being electrically conhousing therefor, an electric contact plug secured to one side of said ousing, an electric contact socket secured to t 1e other side thereof, said plug and socket each being provided one of the contacts of nected directly thr'pugh said housing, and the other contact of said plug and socket being connected through the resistance coil in said housing. v I I a 4:. A dimming attachment for electric light circuits comprising a resistancecoil, a housing therefor, an electric contact plug secured to one side of said housing, an electric contact socket secured to the other side thereof, said plug and socket each being provided with double contacts, one of the contacts of said plug and socket being electrically connected directly through said housing, and the other contact of said plug and socket bein connected through the resistance coil in said housing. I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HARRY o. FOSIIIER. 

